Dial-holding mechanism for knitting-machines



H. SWINGLEHURST.

DIAL HOLDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, I915- RENEWED JUNE 2. I919.

Patented July 22, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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DIAL HOLDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

. APPLlCATlbN FILED FEB. 20. 1915. RENEWED JUNE 2.1919.

Patented July 22, 1919.

2 SHEQETSSHEET 2.

BARRY 'swmeLnHuRsr, or mooirm, NEW HAMPSHIRE, nssrenon, in: 11mm ASSIGNMENTS, TO SCOTT & WILLIAMS, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF MAS SAGHUSETTS.

DIAL- OLDING mEoHAmsm For. mtr'rmdmacnmns;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application fiIedFebruary 20, 1915, Serial No. 9,725. Renewed June 2, 1919-. Serial No. 301,352.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY Swmennnunsr,

citizen of the United States, and resident of the use of dogs or abutments reacting through the fabric, to provide a device ca pable of effective use-with rib knitting ma chines of any size, including those of relatively large diameter, and to provide for the supply of yarn at a relatively great num- 'ber of knitting waves froma source external of the needle and cam carriers.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical" section through the axis of-a machine of one type provided with my improved devices;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan showing the dial holding arm, the movable slides for holding said arm, and means for working the slides;

Fig. 3 is a section on a line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a detail elevation showing one of the supports for the bobbin stand and yarn guiding tubes; Y ,F'g. 5 is a similar detail illustrating the connection to the overhead stop-motion and another pair of yarn tubes;

[Fig 6 is a detail perspective of the slide operating cam;

Fig. 7 is a detail ofa modified holding arm- Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of one of the slides.

I have illustrated my invention, for one embodiment only, in connection with a rib knitting machine having a bed plate 1, and an annular driven cam carrier ring 3 having bevel teeth 4 driven by a driving gear 5, said ring being provided with a cam ring 6 and cylinder needle cams 7 cooperating with needles in a needle cylinder 8, the ring 3 rotating m a concentric bearing on bed plate 1, and cylinder 8 being held in a concentric seat 9 on said bed plate. Cylinder 8 is ad-' justable circumferentially through a short distance by means of an attached lug 10 fast on the inner face of said cylinder, which lug carries set screws 11 taking against a screw '12 fast in bed plate 1. The cylinder 8 is all as usual in this type of machine.

Said arch 17 carries in a central bored boss, for adjustment by the usual set screws, a sleeve 18 which in turn carries at its lower end a dial cam cap 20 held by set screw 21. Sleeve 18 provides a bearing for center spindle 25 supported against endwise movement in sleeve 18 by hardened track plates 26 having between them caged balls 27, forming a thrust bearing between the upper end of sleeve 18 and the usual adjusting-nut and hand-wheel 28, which may be locked in place by set screw 29. The nut 28 is threaded on a boss 31. preferably integral with dial holding arm'30, and keyed to said center spindle at 34, and held against endwise movement by washer 32 and nut 33 on the threaded and reduced upper end of said center spindle. The lower end of said center spindle 25 carries a support 36 having a flange 37 upon which a needle dial 10 is held by screws 41. Support 36 is keyed to center spindle 25 at 42, and is supported upon the lower end of said center spindle by the washer and oil cup 1-5 and nut 1-1 on the reduced and threaded lower end of said center spindle.

It will be observed that the described structures make the arm 30 rigid with respect to the needle dial 40 and that the dial cam cap, sleeve 18, arch 17, etc., may rotate'with respect to said needle dial 40, center spindle 25, and arm 30. Dial cam cap 20 is held to move with arch 17 by any usual means, such as a link connected to one of the posts 16 (not shown).

The dial arch 17 carries a concentric ring a central boss 56 for an overhead yarnguide su port 57. Pins 51 carry the yarn supply bobbins, as usual, the yarns y' from said bobbins extending upward to an overhead guide (not shown) on support 57, and returning downwardly through yarn eyes 58 distrib-' uted about boss 56.

The supports 52 for the bobbin stand 55 rotate in a circular path a: just outside of the face of the arm 30, which face may be formed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as an adjustable plate 60 conforming to and within the circle swept by supports 52, and attached to arm 30 by screws 61. Plate 60 may be hardened, and is provided upon its outer face with recesses 63 subtending a substantial angle with respect to the center of the machine, for instance about 25.

It will be observed that the heavy rotating mass of yarn and bobbin support is by the device of the supports 52 made to rest at a number of widely separated points upon the rigid dial arch 17, posts 16', and gear ring t. Eccentrically disposed weights on the bobbin stand, which can not be avoided, are therefore supported upon a broad, firm base and can not alter or flex the center spindle or der-ange the relative positions of cylinder and dial during operation at speeds otherwise attainable.

On the bed plate 1, outside of the range of movement of the movable parts, I erect a housing 65 containing parts now to be described for holding the arm 30' stationary, while permitting passage of the supports 52, of structures carrying the yarns to the inclosed knitting devices, and of other connections or instruments rotating with the rotatable arts.

Means or holding the arm 30 may comprise slides 75, Figs. 1, 2 and 8 moving in ways 76 in the housing 65, at fixed distances apart corresponding to the distance separating the recesses 63. A preferred form of slide isthat shown in the drawings, a stout rectangular body a moving in a way 76, being provided with a; reduced nose 6 to enter a recess 63, and with a surface 0 set at an angle, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 8. For lightness, slides 75 may conveniently be made as drop forgings X-shaped in crosssection, having one solid end, on which nose 6 is formed, and having one web cut away to leave the angular surface 0', the web behind said surface being provided with bossesc. I

Gears 83 and 8 4: on stud -shafts 85 and 86 in said housing transmit motion to shaft 81 and cam 80, from a gear 87 carried by a short shaft 90 in a depending bearin 91 formm a part of housing 65, and exten ing under t e bed plate 1. Shaft 90 is driven by a bevel gear 92 meshing with the teeth 4.

The figure of cam 80 is such as to withdraw and reinsert each of-the slides'75, by

means of its anti-friction rolls 78, while the other slide 75 is. still held in engagement with its recess 63. The angular separation of the slides 7 5 with respect to the center of the shaft 81 is sufficient to include between said slides a withdrawing segment .of said cam 80 having'a dwell d and at least the angular extent of one of the inclines e and f respectively for withdrawing and reinsert ing slides 75 from and into contact with recesses 63. Preferably the entire extent of the dwell d and inclines e and f is included between the slides; and a usual form of cam 80 will comprise two opposite withdrawing segments d, e, f occupying opposite quadrants of said cam, the other two quadrants being plane flats 9 serving to hold either or both of the slides 7 5' forward in engagement with arm 30. Rotation of the cam 80 in either direction under these circumstances will first withdrawn slide 75, then hold'said" slide in a withdrawn position during the passage of the dwell d, and'then advancesaid slide sharply into engagement with its recess 63, and thereafter withdraw the other slide 75, holding it withdrawn during the single interval of time as the first actuated s 1 e. moves at a constant rate related to the 'rate of ring 3, and the rate of passage of supports 52 and the other parts. whlch mate The uppersurface of the cam 80.

be passed through the connection formed between the arm 30 and the housing 65, the slide 7 5 at the bottom of Fig. 2, for instance,

being thus first moved, to open the passage at a: for the attachments of: the rotat' member of the machine movin in the-d1- rection of the arrow on said gore. The movement of the cam 80 is so timed by the gear train 82, 83, 84, 87 as to secure the closure of the first opened slide the rotating element before the complete opening of the'second slide by the passage'of a second withdrawinglportion d, e, f of camSO. It will be seen 1: at the frequency of the 1,311,,oee

opening and closing of the slides 75 will depend upon the ratio of movement between the ring 3-and gear teeth 4 and the gear 82. The teeth 4: being relatively of great extent, it will be obvious that the operation of the slides 75 may be repeated as many times as desired during' one complete revolution of the machine. I have shown in the drawings, by way of example only, a dial arch 17 carrying four lugs 50 on the ring 49, each of said lugs carrying a support 52, except one mentioned below, and each of said lug also marking the location of removable yarn tubes 62, arbitrarily shown as two in number, through which tubes yarns 3/ are conducted to yarn feed guides 100 carried by the dial cam cap 20; for instance to supply eight knitting waves. with single or four waves with double yarns. The machine illustrated is intended to be employed with cams for four knitting waves, but it will be under- I stoodthat for a greater number, lugs 50,

supports 52 and yarn tubes 62 may be provided at any desired parts of ring 49, and that each lug and support 52 may carry any desired number. of yarn-tubes 62.

A preferred formof yarn tube and support is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, sup-port 52 carrying a clamp-bracket 54, bored for removable tubes 62, held by set-screws 59, permitting a tube 62 tobe taken out for cleaning without disturbing any other parts.

I Whatever the number of yarn tubes em-- ployed, their extent along the periphery of thecircular path a: defined by them will be sufficiently small to enable the first slide 75 to be opened for their passage, and closed behind them before the second slide 75 isactuated. In the arrangement shown the slides 75 are actuated eight times during each revolution of the carrier 3.

Such other connections as may be desired between the overhead part of the machine and the rotating cam carriers may be accommodated in the circular path it at the position of the lugs as one instance, one of the lugs 50 (see- Figs. land 5) may carry a rigid tube 102 in which is journaled a vertical rock-shaft 103 having cranks 104 and 105, to serve as a connection between a rockshaft 106 and crank 107 forming a part of an overhead yarn-break detecting stop-motion mechanism of any desired type and a detector finger 107 for operating a power let 0E device such as ri 108, corresponding to' the disclosure of etters Patent to Scott & Swinglehurst, No. 679,641, dated July so, 1901.

It will be observed that the strain taken by the arms 30 and the slides 75 is merely that of resistance to operative movement of the dial needles held in the needle d1a1 40; that said parts are relatively stationary in the preferred arrangement shown; and that there is no momentum of parts under rapld movement to be resisted by the device, inertia aiding the slides 7 5 to hold the dial stationary. The parts actually moved to permit the passage of the desired rotating elements are relativelysmall and light, and thelr rapid actuation is effected without shock or jar to the machine, and I find in practice that the positioning of the needle dial may be very, accurately maintained by the said devices.

For determining in the first instance the angular position of the dialneedles with respect to the cylinder needles, I may adjust the plate 60 on the arm 30 by means of the screws 61', but I prefer in most cases to ro tate the needle cylinder 8 as by means of the screws 11 reacting with the screw 12 to brlng the cylinder needles into the proper relation with the dial needles.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the devicesillustrated within the scope of my invention. For instance, I have shown in Fig. 7 a modified dial-holding arm 111 for replacement of arm 30, said arm 111 having parallel lugs 112 with faces 115 and 116 to receive hardened plates 113 held by screws 114. By mounting both plates on faces 116, or one on a face 116 and another on face 115, or by mounting both said plates on the exterior faces, different angles may be subtended by them without change of the standard parts, to engage with slides 75 having noses b at corresponding distances, and to alter tl1e angular position of the points of openlng and closing the sides to agree with connections mounted on rin 49 at varied angles. The construction of slides 75 enables the engaging faces h of noses b to be formed at any part of the width of said slides, thereby to vary the spacing of said faces, and by so changin the form of slides 75,, and the length, thic ness and position of plates 113, existing machines may be equipped with my new devices through wide variations in diameter, number of feedpoints and other characteristics.

It will 'be understood that for changes in the period of operation of cam 80 and slides 75, I may employ gearing of any desired ratio in housing 65. For simplicity, I re fer the construction shown, studs 85 an 86 being mounted in holes drilled to suit the selected gear train, the face and top of the housing being covered by plates 110, which may have suitable finished bosses 120 .to hold said gears 83 and 8% in place, the construction providing a noiseand oil-tight casing,

venient point about the bed plate, but I prefor to place it at the back of the machine, about 45 from'the driving shaft, Where it will be out of the way of the operator.

What I claim is:

1. A circular knitting machine having in combination a pair of needle carriers, a pair of cam carriers, means to cause relative rotation between said pairs of carriers, and

. means to hold the carriers of one pair relatively fixed to each other comprising movable slides, a mounting therefor fixed to one of said carriers, an abutment fast to the other carrier, rotary means formoving said slides out of and into contact withsaid' abutment and devices for rotating said ro-' tary means a plurality of times during each relative rotation of said carriers.

carrier, and means for rotating said cam a plurality of times during each relative rotation of said carriers.

3. 'A knitting machine having in combination'a pair of needle carriers, a pair of cam carriers, means to rotate one pair of said carriers with respect to the other pair, means for rotating one pair of said carrlers together, and means to hold the other carriers in fixed relation comprising slides, a

cam for withdrawing and'reinserting said slides insuccession, an abutment fast to one carrier for engagement by said slides, and means for rotating said cam a plurality of times during each revolution of said rotary carriers. a v

l. A circular knitting machine having in combination a pair of needle carriers, 'a, pair of cam carriers, means to cause rotation of the cam carriers, yarnsupply means rotating with the rotating carriers, and means'to hold the needle carriers relatively fixed to each other comprising alternately operating slides,

a mounting therefor fixed to one of said needle carriers and a cam for moving said slides. alternately into and put of contact with an attachment of the other needle carrier, and means for rotating said cam a lurality of times during each relative rotat on of said carriers, whereby to pass-a plurality of yarns leading from the rotating yarn supply means to a rotating'cam carrier. I I

51A knitting machine having in combi-l nation' two needle carriers, two cam carriers with'respect to the other air, means connecting said rotary carriers or rotation .together, and means to hold the other car:

riers in fix ed relation comprising slides, a cam for withdrawing and remsertmg said shdes in succession and means for rotating said cam on an axis fixed with respect to one of said carriers and at an angle thereto, and an abutment fast to the other carrier for engagement by said slides.

. 6. A knitting machine having in combination two needle carriers, two cam carriers, means to rotate one pair of said carriers with respect to the other pair, means connecting said rotary carriers for" rotation together, and means to hold the other carriers in v fixed relation comprising altern'ately operating slides fixed with respect to one of said carriers, a cam for operating said slides and means for rotating said cam on an axis parallel with said slides, and an abutment fast to the other-carrier for engagement by said slides.

' 7 A rib knitting machine having elements such as a needle carrier and needles in an internal position with respect both to the fabric produced and to other fixed elements of the machine, such as another needle carrier and needles codperating to produce the fabric; knitting cams rotating externally of said elements, rotary yarn supply means, and means to drive said means, in combination with means for holding said internal element in fixed relation to said other fixed elements including an abutment thereon, a plurality of slides, and rotating means to free said slides in turn from said abutment driven at a constant rate greater than that of said knitting means, whereby a plurality of connections rotating with said knitting cams may pass between said slides and said abutment.

8. A rib knitting machine having a needle cylinder and needle dial, cam carriers for cylinder and .dial cams, drivin means for said cam carriers, a rotary bobbin stand and supports therefor carried by one of said cam carriers, in combination with means to hold the said cylinder and dial in a fixed relation to each other comprising an arm rigid with said dial, slides taking against said arm, a mountingfor said slides fixed relatively to said cylinder, a cam" on said mounting for moving said slides alternately into and out of contact with said arm, and gearing for rotating said cam to withdraw and reinsert said slides in turn at the passage of each of said supports.

9. A rib knitting machine having in combinations. needle cylinder and needle dial, pain carriers for cylinder and dial cams, driving means for said cam carriers, a bobbin-stand, a plurality of supports on one v of said cam carriers equidistant from the riers, means to. rotate one pair of sald car path into con-' or movmg said 180 said shaft and a rotary slides successively out of said path during the passage of each of said supports, and for returning one of said slides before moving another.

10. A circular knitting machine having in combination needle, carriers, cam carriers and a bobbin support, a plurality of means connecting the bobbin support to a cam carrier for support thereby and movement therewith, means to drive said cam, carrier and fbobbin support, and means-to hold said needle carriers fixed with respect to each other comprising slides, a mounting therefor fixed with respect to the one of said carriers, and means to move said slides in succession out of and into the path of said connecting means and into and out of contact with an attachment of the other carrier, comprising a cam on said fixed mounting and means driven from said cam carrier to rotate said cam once for each passage of one of said connecting means.

1-1. Dial holding means for a rib knitting machine having in combination a needle dial, an arm.- rigid therewith, recesses in said arm, slides for engaging said recesses, a

housing on a fixed part of said machine having ways for said s ides, a shaft in said housing, a cam for moving said slides alternately into and out of contact with their recesses mounted on said shaft, and gearing between element of said machine.

12. A rib knitting machine having a cylinder, a dial, a cylinder cam ring and a dial cam cap rotating with respect to said cylinder and dial, and means for holding said dial relatively fixed with respect to said cylinder, said means comprising devices for opening a path concentric with said cam ring at a predetermined plurality of separate points in the circumference thereof, an overhead yarn supply mechanism and stop-motion device rotating "with the rotary part of the machine, and a connection from said stop-motion to a power let-0E device in said path at one of said circumferential points.

13. A dial holding attachment for rib knitting machines comprising a housing for erection on a fixed part of the machine, Ways in said housing for dial holding slides, a rotary cam for withdrawing said slides in turn, and means in said housing for rotating said cam from a moving part of said machine.

14. A dial holding attachment for rib knitting machines havingva driven cam-ring comprising a housing for erection on a fixed part of the machine, ways in said housing for dial holding slides, a rotary cam for withdrawing said slides in turn, a gear train in said housing, a driving shaft therefor, and a gear on said shaft for engagement with the driving means for said cam-ring.

15. A rib knitting machine having a dial, and a holding device for said dial comprising an arm fixed to said dial, a plurality of slides for engaging said arm and means for withdrawing said slides comprising a cam mounted on an aXis parallel to the direction of motion of one of said slides, means on said slides engaging said cam and means for rotating said earn.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'FREDERICK A. GLINns, LESTER V. SANBoRN. 

